We invite you to the

International Conference

„Rethinking Sentencing: Are We Getting Justice Right?“

Introduction and aim of the conference

The Faculty of Law of Charles University, in cooperation with the Czech Bar Association of Defence Counsels, invites you to participate in the international conference “Rethinking Sentencing: Are We Getting Justice Right?” The conference will address key issues in sentencing and the execution of criminal sanctions, with a particular focus on the punishment of economic crime. Leading European scholars and legal practitioners have confirmed their participation.

The conference will take place on March 26–27, 2026. The conference will open with a discussion on white-collar crime sentencing, led by a panel of international experts. The discussion will be held in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Czech available.

Confirmed foreign experts:

• Petter Gottschalk, BI Norwegian Business School (Norway)
• Michael Levi, Cardiff University (United Kingdom)
• Mojca M. Plesničar, Dean Lipovac, Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law (Slovenia)
• Daniel Kwiatkowski, Jagiellonian University (Poland)
• Magnus Ulväng, Uppsala University (Sweden)

The second day of the conference will be open to all interested participants and will provide a forum for discussion of current issues related to sentencing and the execution of criminal sanctions. We welcome contributions offering doctrinal, comparative, or empirical perspectives on the imposition and/or execution of criminal sanctions. The working languages will be Czech, English, and Slovak.

While we encourage you to explore your own ideas, the following topics may serve as inspiration:

• Sentencing of economic crime
• Sentencing legal entities
• Sentencing juveniles and other vulnerable groups
• Factors influencing sentencing; disparities in sentencing
• The role of various actors (e.g., prosecutors, defence lawyers, probation officers) in sentencing
• Imposing and enforcing alternative sanctions (e.g., fines, house arrest):
  Practical limits to non-custodial measures?
• The use of protective measures (e.g., protective therapy, security detention)
• Restorative justice principles in sentencing
• Sentencing of poverty crimes

Contribution formats

Discussion is the foundation of mutual enrichment. Therefore, we welcome contributions in a variety of formats, which can enrich the debate in interesting ways. If you are interested in one of these “non-traditional” formats, we will be happy to help you organize it. If you decide to submit an individual paper contribution, the organizers will assign it to the relevant section according to its topic.

Choose the format that suits you best:

• Individual Paper
  • The application must include a title and paper abstract (max. 300 words), along with the name and affiliation of the author(s). Contributions will be grouped into panels based on the topic discussed.
• Pre-arranged Panel
  • Thematic panels should consist of 3–5 papers and may address one of the suggested topics or propose a new one.
  • The application should include the title of the panel, the names and affiliations of the presenters, paper titles, and short abstracts (max. 300 words per paper).
  • The proposal is submitted by the panel chair, who will chair the session.
• Roundtable Discussions
  • A discussion meeting on a specific topic in the–more informal–roundtable form.
  • The application should include the title and abstract of the meeting (max. 300 words) and basic information about the participants (name and affiliation).
  • The proposal is submitted by the chair, who will moderate the discussion.
• Author Meets Critics
  • Presentation of a new publication, summary of key findings, and subsequent discussion on the topic. This format is intended for critical discussion of a published book or paper.
  • The application should include the name and affiliation of the author, the title of the book/paper, and the names and affiliations of approximately 1–2 readers (critics).
  • The proposal is submitted by the author; if you are interested in further collaboration in shaping the panel (e.g., selecting readers), please contact the conference organizers.

Registration is open until 28 February 2026.

Important Information

• Refreshments will be provided during the conference.
• No conference fee will be charged.
• Accommodation is not provided by the organizers.

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Vojtěch Podliska at vojtech.podliska@prf.cuni.cz.

Organizers

prof. JUDr. Bc. Tomáš Gřivna, Ph.D.
JUDr. Vojtěch Podliska
JUDr. Alena McClure